Carol Erwin
NCE Roundtable 2009
Last updated October 2025
Movie Magic!!!!
Using Movies in Your Family and Consumer Sciences Classroom
All across the nation Family and Consumer Sciences teachers are battling to keep their programs. Although I originally created this resource to help save time for teachers and share meaningful movie guides already created, I have become concerned that this web site and the resources provided on it could be used as an example of why FCS programs aren't rigorous or worthy of respect and appreciation. On April 3, 2014, I took the site down...within 1 hour, I had 4 requests to open it back up. I decided to open it again with the following message: my passion is teaching Family and Consumer Sciences content, and I only want to do the best for all of you. I am no longer in the 7-12 classroom, but I would like this to be a resource for the teachers that still are. I have created some items for thought before using movies in your classroom. Please read and think about them before choosing to show a movie.
Using movies in the FCS classroom can be a meaningful way to connect students to content and concepts you are addressing. Some things to keep in mind when thinking about using a movie TO TEACH:
-is there a true connection between the movie content and the FCS standards I'm teaching?
-can I just show a clip or two and not spend the time showing a whole movie?
-am I following copyright laws?
-is my administration ok with me showing movie clips/movies?
-does my district have a policy on showing movie clips/movies?
-are my students' parents ok with me showing their child movie clips/movies?
-have I sent home a permission slip for parents to allow their child to watch the movie in my classroom?
-does this type of activity and what I'm doing with it a RIGOROUS way of teaching this concept?
-am I showing this clip or movie when I'm PRESENT, so I can carry out discussion related to the concepts?
-if I'm not PRESENT, do I have a sub that will make this a meaningful learning experience for my students?
-am I using movies or movie clips along with a lot of other engaging, active ways of teaching my content or are my students bored because "we're watching a movie again"? How often should I be showing a full length movie?
-if my administrator "pops in" while we are watching the movie or movie clip, can I justify why we are watching it? Could my students explain to him/her what they are learning by watching it?
-does the assignment that goes along with the movie clip/movie an assignment that has students regurgitate information such as character's names, story line, or setting questions? OR does the assignment force my students to engage in and practice higher level thinking, analyzing, problem solving, ethical decision making or other critical thinking skills to connect the standards you are teaching to the content in the movie?
I am not telling you what or how to teach, but I encourage you to think about these questions. As budgets get tighter and high stakes testing becomes more important, we HAVE TO work to engage students in rigorous learning experiences that help them practice and reinforce their academic skills and higher level thinking skills. Administrators believe they could hire a para to put in and show movies, don't let them think that you and your program wouldn't be missed.
Below in the attachments are the handouts I distributed at the NCE 2009 Roundtable session titled, "Movie Magic List of Movie Ideas" . I have also attached the worksheets/discussion guides (in Word 97-2003, some of the PDF's would not upload to this site so they are linked below) for various movies that I have found on the Internet and from the FCS listservs I subscribe to. A few are mine, but most are from others (most do not have names on them or I would give them credit where credit is due - if you want credit because one is yours, let me know and I'll add it - if you would like yours taken down, I can do that, too). We are all lucky that so many FCS teachers are willing to share their great ideas! Good luck and if you have any questions, my e-mail is carol.erwin@gmail.com
Websites with Movie Ideas...some with discussion questions or curriculum
Dibble Institute (http://www.dibbleinstitute.org/movie-guides/ ) - relationship movie guides
http://www.teachwithmovies.org/ - movies categorized by classes, by topic, by type of show, by age...you name it
http://moviesheets.com/ - has worksheets listed for movies, categorized, has a section for Family and Consumer Sciences
Money/Personal finance movies - these are free with an educator account at https: //www.ngpf.org/video-library/
The movie guides/worksheets are listed in alphabetical order below and if there is more than one guide for the movie, it may be a different take on that movie as far as topic/content being studied. Scroll down for all of them.
Have found that they download better if you click on the download arrow on the right side of the screen instead of the name of the file, especially the pdf's.